As Kevin Cowherd pointed out over on the Toy Department blog, Orioles third baseman Mark Reynolds is one of 18 major-leaguers who this season are hitting below .215 -- the career average of Mario Mendoza.
Mendoza, of course, is the standard bearer when...

Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said he received "legitimate interest" from clubs looking to upgrade at shortstop this month, but in the end he felt the Orioles should keep J.J. Hardy instead of dealing him away for prospects.
In a...

When the Orioles broke spring training 31/2 months ago to heightened expectations and growing excitement, Robert Andino and Mark Hendrickson grappled with opposite emotions.
Hendrickson, the veteran of nine big league seasons, was facing his first trip...

Standing on the field at Camden Yards on Monday afternoon, Orioles top offensive prospect Manny Machado said he hoped to be here again in two years wearing a big league uniform.
"It's great to see what these guys are going through right now, and,...

Michael Gonzalez's career in Baltimore hasn't played out as he had hoped when he signed a two-year, $12 million deal before the 2010 season. But as his turbulent Orioles career possibly winds down, the left-handed reliever is finally doing what the club paid him to do — pitch with the game on the line, and do it well.
"Being in the bigger situations, that's what has driven me my whole career," Gonzalez said before Tuesday night's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. "That's an adrenaline rush for...

Before meeting with the Baltimore media for the first time Wednesday, Dylan Bundy was every bit an 18-year-old as an Orioles media relations staffer helped him button his shirt sleeves. But after the team's first-round pick in June's amateur draft was officially introduced, the right-hander made it clear that he is ready to roll up those sleeves and get to work.
Bundy, who agreed to a guaranteed $6.25 million major league contract on Aug. 15, said he is excited to get back on the mound after spending...

Given the number of players who have already been recalled and the hope that a few injured big leaguers will return this month, the Orioles didn't recall a wave of minor leaguers Thursday when rosters expanded.
Calling it a trickle would be generous.
The Orioles purchased the contracts of right-hander Rick VandenHurk and outfielder Kyle Hudson from Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday, a day after promoting lefty Zach Phillips. There were no other moves announced, although manager Buck Showalter said one more...

The Orioles will all but complete their September roster expansion before Tuesday night's game at Yankee Stadium, bringing back Chris Davis from the 15-day disabled list and calling up four more players from the minor leagues.
President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail confirmed that Davis will rejoin the team after rehabbing his sore shoulder. The Orioles will call up Clay Rapada, Josh Bell, Jeremy Accardo and Pedro Florimon, Jr.
Florimon apparently was a late addition when veteran infielder...

Adam Jones received good news and bad news in the Orioles' clubhouse before Tuesday night's game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Camden Yards. The good news was that the center fielder had been named the club's nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, which recognizes the player who best represents Major League Baseball through contributions on and off the field.
Unfortunately, the 26-year-old had also just learned that he was being held out of the starting lineup for a fourth consecutive game because of...

Each morning, Monday through Friday, I'll hook you up with some reading material to skim through as you slug down coffee and slack off at the start of your workday -- that way I'll have an excuse to do the same at the start of mine.
Running it back:
A rainout postponed the Orioles' Tuesday night game against the Yankees until July or August -- and changed the team's pitching plans. ... The troubling NFL lockout didn't stop the league from releasing an all-too-familiar preseason schedule for the...